Tag: a series of unfortunate events

Today, I finally finished reading the third volume in A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket: The Wide Window for the 2017 Reading Challenge. Although I didn’t particularly enjoy either of the first two stories, it is undeniable that the tales are amusing and easy to read.

Review:“Frustration is an interesting emotional state, because it tends to bring out the worst in whoever is frustrated.”

The third tale in the A Series of Unfortunate Events saga concerns siblings Violet, Klaus and Sunny’s introduction to their Aunt Josephine, in search of their forever home. Having previously been thwarted twice by their evil relation Count Olaf, the children are hopeful for a happy ending – of course, that was never going to happen.

As with the preceding volumes, the plot is simply ridiculous. All the adults in the Baudelaire’s lives are incompetent fools (though this is part of the appeal for children), and the method of delivery is nothing if not unique.

Considering I have now read three novels in this series, I can safely say that I will never be a fan of Lemony Snicket’s works, however, I can appreciate the benefit of real life lessons incorporated within the fiction. I think this is where my journey with the Baudelaire’s comes to an end: I will assume the worst possible ending for the orphans.

For more content, visit @charlottebibliophile on Goodreads, Instagram and YouTube

At just gone midnight (I seem to have a habit of such things) I finished reading my 46th book of the year and the 2015 Reading Challenge #62 A book with alliteration in the title: “The Reptile Room” by Lemony Snicket. I read the first book in this series earlier this year, and since I downloaded the first three books together as a Kindle bundle, on a whim I decided to pick up the second volume.

My Goodreads Review
“The second in a thirteen book series, ‘The Reptile Room’ sees the Baudelaire orphans rehomed with their eccentric herpetologist uncle Montgomery Montgomery, after their fortune escape from the evil Count Olaf. All is well, and the Baudelaire’s seem to have found their happily ever after, until their uncle hires an assistant – the cunning Count Olaf in disguise.
As usual, only the children identify the risks posed – the adults don’t believe them – and they have to concoct a plan to oust Olaf. When their beloved uncle turns up dead, Violet, Klaus and Sunny get to work convincing Mr. Poe that Olaf is once again after their fortune.
I found this book more entertaining than the previous volume, primarily because I loved the interaction with uncle Monty, who was, as a character, highly entertaining. However, I found the plot predictable, and the escape wasn’t well orchestrated. I guess we’ll see which distant relative the Baudelaire’s end up with next…”

I am slightly depressed that I have another eleven books to read before the conclusion of this series, which I am expecting to be terrible anyway – at least in terms of an unhappy ending. Despite the books being short, I find their tone and patronising nature difficult to stomach, except in small bursts. I do expect to carry on with the series (at least with the third novel “The Wide Window”) but I’m not in any rush to do so.

#62 A book with alliteration in the title – A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Reptile Room by Lemony Snicket (5/10)

Thirty-three down, seventeen to go. (Forty-six read)

My journey will also be instagrammed frequently on @charlottebibliophile

It’s fair to say that I didn’t expect that my 2015 Reading Challenge would get off to such a great start. I’m clearly very motivated to complete this challenge (it’s just as well really, as I’m not feeling especially motivated to do anything else…)

Last night I was contemplating which book to pick up out of my three current reads (“The Rosie Project” by Graeme Simsion, “My True Love Gave To Me” edited by Stephanie Perkins or “A Clash Of Kings” by George R.R. Martin, but none of them really spoke to me at that precise minute. On the spur of the moment, I decided to switch on my Kindle, something I’ve only done a couple of times in the last six months, and that led me to decide to re-read Lemony Snicket’s “A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning”. When I was eight or nine I read the first three books in this series, but didn’t really get into it in a big way, but as it’s a quick read, and it fulfilled #33 A book from your childhood, I decided to pick it up (and subsequently whizz through it).

My Goodreads Review
“Unfortunate is right. In my first childhood revisited novel of 2015, Lemony Snicket’s world hasn’t stood the test of time, at least with me. I read the first three books when I was younger, but didn’t get into them beyond that, and now looking back I can understand why.
The plot was thin (it’s a kids book, so that’s understandable) but the characterisation was good, especially regarding Count Olaf. The descriptions were generally good, however in some instances “explaining the long, difficult words” felt a little condescending (although it’s probably an excellent way for children to further their vocabulary!)
If you are after a quick read, with an important life lesson that not everything turns out alright in the end, then this is probably a good book to pick up. In a day where all novels end with good triumphing over evil, it is refreshing that this series does not follow that predictable format (however, of course it is predictable in the opposite sense). ”

I’m not sure when I’ll read the other *twelve – yes twelve* books in this series. I have the next two loaded onto my Kindle, so I may well pick them up in the future. Out of the three books I’ve read so far in 2015, it is my least favourite, so the remaining books are not high on my TBR list. Regardless, I have to say, reading on my Kindle again was an enjoyable experience, and I do believe that I read more when I’m less concerned with pages numbers, and when the end of the chapter is, so credit where credit’s due Amazon. You made a great product there!

#33 A book from your childhood – A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket (4/10)

Three down, forty-seven to go.

My journey will also be instagrammed frequently on @charlottebibliophile